My wife's 1999 Forester was bought in the fall of 1998.  It has 40,088 miles
on it.  (And that includes one trip from Virginia to Utah and back, 6,000
miles right there.)  She makes lots of short trips.

The manual says to change the timing belt at 105,000 miles or 105 months.  
Since the car will be 108 months old this fall I called the local garage and
tried to schedule an appointment to get the belt changed.  When the guy asked
me the year, mileage, and so forth, he asked why I want to change the belt at
only 40,000 miles.  I told him about the 105 month thing.  He told me not to
bother to change the belt until about 60,000 miles.

At the present rate of use, the car won't have 60,000 miles until about 2012.
I'll probably be dead before then.

Recognizing that the man is turning away several hundred dollars' worth of
business, thus enhancing his credibility, I am inclined to take his
recommendation.

Comments?